A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons

Author Taylor recounts the story of Paul Jennings, a slave who was born on James Madison's Virginia plantation and served his family in the White House during Madison's presidency. After Madison's death, Jennings was freed by Senator Daniel Webster of New Hampshire, a staunch abolitionist. Jennings went on to write a memoir--the first memoir to be written by a White House resident and to purchase the freedom of his wife and children.Elizabeth Dowling Taylor has spent over two decades working in historical research and museum education. She has served as the Director of Interpretation at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, as Director of Education at James Madison's Montpelier and as a Fellow at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The book will be available for purchase and signing.